Contact: Lisa Jablow, (802-253-1592), info@protectourwildlifevt.org

Stowe, Vermont – Today Protect Our Wildlife, a Vermont all-volunteer wildlife protection advocacy group, submitted a petition to the Fish and Wildlife Board that seeks changes to trapping regulations in an effort to better protect pets, people, and raptors from injury and death in traps set for Vermont wildlife, such as bobcats and coyotes.

The use of baited traps, including leghold and body crushing “kill” traps, is allowed on public lands, including state forests, parks, wildlife refuges, and wildlife management areas where both Vermonters and tourists recreate. There is no public notification that traps may be present, nor is there a requirement that trappers set traps away from areas frequented by the public.

“This is an example of when the Fish and Wildlife Board needs to step forward and do what’s right by the general public, not just the trappers. While trappers only represent…